#taichi yagami does not need to be shelved

[izumiyagami14]

longing

enlightenmonth // [day 5-8] hug or longing Summary: While waiting for Taichi to come back from his soccer game, Koushiro fights a feeling unknown to him. Hikari, on the other hand, decides to keep him company.

Discordant clicks and taps of the keyboard tuned out the television broadcasting in the background. The tedious ticks of the laptop were coming from the boy sitting criss cross on the couch. Koushiro continued to type, preoccupied by tonight’s lingering thoughts.

He was asked to stay the night by Taichi to work on something “Digidestined” related, but he was running late from his soccer game. He stopped typing for a second to look at his watch. It was 8:26pm. What is taking him so long? How is he still out at this time of night? He thought to himself as he continued back to his work.

Being an introvert, Koushiro enjoyed the silence that rested peacefully upon the room, knowing that it will instantly change the moment his friend came barging through the front door. The background noise from the television was a nice reminder that he was alone with his work. Or so he thought...

Soft, cushioned footsteps slowly patted on the hallway floor and into the kitchen, causing his heart to jump a beat. He instantly stopped working on his computer to listen. Inaudible mumbles were carried from the kitchen to the living room the boy was sittting in. How could I forget she was here? She let me into the house in the first place.

Staying on the couch, he straightened his hunched over back and peered over to the direction of where the sound was coming from. He saw the silhouette of the girl reaching for a something on one the cabinet shelves and pulling down two completely different shaped mugs. She then took the mugs and turned to the tea kettle next to the stove. As she started preparing the tea, she hummed an unrecognizable tune to herself.

As he continued to quietly observe what Hikari was doing in the kitchen, Koushiro’s heart started pacing. He felt his hands get clammy when she grabbed the tea kettle of freshly brewed tea. As she continued to hum the song that was stuck in her head, she swayed left to right, pouring the tea into the two mugs. The sight caused a smile to unknowingly grow on Koushiro’s face.

It was then when Hikari turned her head to meet his lingering gaze. She smiled and gave him a small wave. Instead of simply returning the wave, Koushiro’s heart stopped, fumbling with his laptop and adverting his eyes downward. His heart rate drastically increased when he heard her footsteps grow louder. He was too nervous to look up at the girl who entered the room, but he quickly glanced up anyways.

Hikari was standing there in an oversized pale pink shirt that was partially tucked into her purple pajama shorts, holding a mug in each hand. His breath hitched, deciding it was best to look back down at his computer. She slowly shuffled with her fuzzy socks to where the boy was sitting and placed one mug on a coaster from the cofffee table in front of him. “Here,” she giggled. “I made us some tea. I heard it is good Koala-tea.”

Koushiro gave her a puzzled look until she turned the mug so he could see the design. It showed a happy little koala holding a mug with the play-on words at the bottom. “Oh, I get it. Koala-tea. Quality,” He responded stiffly, trying to keep his focus on the laptop in his lap.

“Yes, and mine is tea-rific!” She exclaimed, gesturing to her mug. It had a image of a giddy mug, shouting how terrific the tea was. Before Koushiro could respond, she changed the subject. “Taichi’s game went into double overtime so he should be a little late coming home.”

Koushiro hummed in response, not wavering his attention on the computer. And with that response, she scooted away, back into the bedroom, leaving him back to the silence and his wandering thoughts.

He took a sip of the tea that was made and then rested his hands on the keyboard. His hands were supposed to take control of his work, but his mind started to overcome his actions. The silence that now rested upon the room felt different. It once gave him peace a minute ago, but now it felt like a piece was missing. He scratched his cheek with his hand. How could the mood of the room change so quickly? He looked around the room to see if there were any variables to cause it to change.

He still sat criss cross on the couch. The television was still broadcasting the news. The laptop was still open, ready to be used. Maybe it’s the tea? He thought to himself as he picked up the mug and took another sip. No, that’s not it... He didn’t know why, but he had a different feeling from before. At first when he started his work, he yearned for silence, but now, he craved for something else. The dilemma in his mind now was that he didn’t know what this feeling was for.

He moved his laptop from the middle of his lap to one of his legs. Raking his hands through his frizzy red hair, he grumbled to himself. Not knowing the unknown was frustrating.

“You okay, Koushiro?” A voice came from the end of the hallway. He looked up to see Hikari wrapped head to toe in a fuzzy blanket.

His heart jumped again. He guessed that he didn’t hear her go back to the kitchen to put her mug back. He sighed to himself and looked back at the computer. “Yeah, I am fine. Just a little frustrated.”

“Why is that?”

“I honestly don’t know. That’s probably why I am.”

“Is it alright if I join you?” She asked, moving the blanket from over her head to around her shoulders.

The typing of the keyboard slowly started up again when he hummed in response.

She trotted over, blanket in hand, and gently sat down next to him on the couch. She took a deep breath and let out a long yawn. Adjusting the blanket to wrap around her small body, she proceeded to lay down, resting her head lightly on the boy’s lap.

Koushiro’s whole body tensed up and he held his breath. His mind went into overdrive, thinking about the situation, his options, and the scenarios that could play out if her brother was to walk through the door. “What are you dong?” He managed to muster.

“Keeping you company, silly. I thought that was obvious.” She said quietly.

He couldn’t think of a good response to that. He was too focused on his heart racing from her close proximity. The scent of cherry blossoms hit his nose and he was sure that his brain officially malfunctioned.

“Relax. It’s just me,” She whispered as she closed her eyes. “Go back to your work. I won’t bother you.”

Koushiro let out his unknowingly held breath and looked down at the girl next to him. She was slowly breathing in and out, drifting to sleep. He tried to follow suit with her breathing to calm his accelerated heart rate. He was certain that Hikari could hear it from where she rested her head.

He accepted his fate and slowly adjusted his body so he could type on his computer on one leg and leave Hikari undisturbed on the other. After twisting his body to a better position, the discordant clicks and taps of the keyboard started up again.

The ticks of the wall clock harmonized with the taps of the keyboards and the shallow breaths of the sleeping girl. After a while, Koushiro’s shoulders loosened and his heartbeat slowed. He felt his body relax, even with Hikari laying quietly next to him. Eventually, he stopped typing and looked down at her to she how she was doing. Her brown hair rested delicately on her angelic face as she laid there peacefully. A small smile found its way to his face as he admired the sight.

Out of impulse, he reached down and started brushing his hand through her soft hair. Slowly and carefully, he continued small and smooth strokes that caused Hikari to smile in her sleep. “That feels nice…” she mumbled.

Koushiro’s heart fluttered from her words, but that didn’t stop his movements. Instead, he nervously chuckled and continued to gently play with her hair with one hand while using his computer with the other.

Soft chirps of crickets and cicadas outside joined in the clock’s and computer’s harmony. The distant news report on the television quietly came to an end and a new program projected on the screen. The two souls in the living room of the Yagami residence stayed there on the couch. Hikari’s peaceful presence set Koushiro’s mind at ease as he continued to multitask. He only stopped stroking her hair when he heard a buzzing sound from his phone and answered the call.

“Hey, Koushiro! Just the man I want to talk to!” Taichi exclaimed through the phone.

“Hey, Taichi. What is all the noise in the background?” Koushiro whispered though the phone, trying desperately not to wake the girl sleeping next to him.

“We won! We won! We won! Scored the winning goal! The whole team is going out to celebrate!” Taichi continued to scream.

“That’s great. So I’m guessing you’re going to be even later then?” He continued to whisper. Koushiro moved his laptop to the arm of the couch so he could switch the phone to his other ear, away from Hikari’s face.

“Yeah! I hope that is alright with you! We can just work on what we need to more tomorrow,” he replied. “Why are you whispering?”

Koushiro started to stutter. “Well, I. I-I don’t want to wake up your family.”

“Is Hikari there?”

“I, uh. Uh, yeah. She is. She’s on the couch while I am working at the dining room table,” he lied, looking down the girl asleep on his lap. He noticed that a piece of her hair was out of place and covering the corner of her eye. Before he realized what he was doing, he began to reach his hand out toward her head and delicately brushed it away. She unknowingly smiled at his action, causing his heart to flutter once again.

“Okay, just tell her that I will be home really, really, late. You’re still welcome to stay. Just kick my sister off the couch if you need to,” Taichi laughed.

Koushiro huffed a bit, wondering how in the world he could do that. He’ll think of something. He always does. “Alright, I’ll try my best. To be honest, I will probably still be awake when you get home. Just be safe and I’ll see you soon.”

“You’re the best! Bye, Koushiro!” And with that, Taichi hung up the phone.

Koushiro took in a deep breath and analyzed his options. He didn’t mind staying like this all night, but eventually, Taichi will come home. He waited a good twenty minutes deciphering the available options before he decided his next move.

He sighed and slowly craned his head over the girl laying beside him. “Hey, Hikari…” he whispered as he lightly rubbed her arm. She grumbled his name and pulled her blanket up to her face. Koushiro’s heart skipped as he continued, “Your brother won his game. He won’t be home until much later. We need to get you to your room.”

Hikari shifted and grumbled again. “Nooo…”

He frowned at her attempt. “Yes, we do. As much as we want to stay like this, it’s better for you to get your sleep in your bed,” he quietly admitted, hoping Hikari was too tired to comprehend.

She lightly groaned at his point. “Okay,” she whispered, but put no attempt into getting up.

Koushiro moved his laptop to the coffee table in front of them. He cautiously lifted Hikari’s head and placed a pillow under it as a substitute. Slowly, he got up from his spot and looked down at the sleeping girl. With all the courage he could gather, he carefully picked her up, blanket and all, bridal style and started to carried her into her room.

As they made their way down the hallway, Hikari snuggled her face into the crook of his neck. Koushiro tried his best not to react to her action, afraid her might drop her in the process. When they made it to the destination, he slowly placed her down on her bed and brought the blanket to her shoulder.

He brushed a stray hair out of her face and said, “Goodnight, Hikari. I’ll see you in the morning.”

When he started to turn away, he felt a hand grab his. Turning back around, he saw Hikari’s eyes lock on his. “Thank you. Goodnight, Koushiro,” she whispered with a smile and let go of his hand.

He silently shut her door behind him and walked back toward the living room. When her sat back on the couch and placed his laptop back on his lap, he realized what made him frustrated before. Yes, at first when he started his work, he yearned for silence, but now, he craved for someone else. Her thoughtfulness. Her angelic face. Her happy mood. Her presence.

Koushiro realized he longed to have Hikari next to him… always.

[evyautumn]

High School/Lifestyle Headcanons

I thought giving this a try...

Taichi: Pretty well known among his classmates and obviously the star of the football team. A good amount of girls might have a crush on him because of his good looks but some may find him a little too loud. A total prankster and very goofy. Has a large group of friends to hang out with every now and then but prefers to spend lots of time with Koushiro, Yamato and Sora. Mostly Koushiro on days off. Likes to tease Joe about him studying forever but really he just wants him to loosen up a bit. He probably buys something (favorites sweets or drinks) on his way home to Hikari making up the excuse that he was just passing by. A favorite hobbie of his is planning with Takeru the next prank for Yamato. Pretty active, with initiative. He may not have Yamato´s cooking skills but he does well in that area and knows how to do a good damn omelette. Not so bad in school, you can tell he does his homework and studies the necessary but can be lazy and Sora is always reminding him when the next exam or project is gonna be. A pretty good strategic and analyses the situation very carefully. Doesn´t show it too much but he does care when his friends can´t make it to his soccer match or a little trip to the fair. He can be very carefree but sometimes he can pressure himself very hard. 

Yamato: The Cool Guy. Or at least, that´s what he seems to be. Very good looking and all the girls in the school have a big crush on him. Want to attend his concerts and fangirl over him lots. Seems to be unapproachable but he is just a quiet person. People are intimidated by him at first but once you get to know him you see he is just a nice guy. Like Taichi, not so bad with his grades and is very organized with his schedule having a good balance between high school responsibilities and band practices. Loves music. So passionate to the point that he gets very stubborn and his mood changes constantly like the name of his band. A good cook. Always inviting Takeru to come over and taste his new dish. Gets scared pretty easily and hates horror films. Tries to maintain the cool image in front of his good friends but fails miserably.

Sora: The mother of the group. Reliable and caring. She could have been a class rep. Her classmates always know they can count on her. Likes to keep herself busy and although she is not the first one to take the lead and make some decisions she is always ready to create some cool stuff for the theme they are working on this years class cafe and so. Prefers to keep lots of things to herself and doesn´t tell anyone when she is in trouble. Wants to do it and resolve it herself but worries too much about others. She is always telling Taichi to be focused during class but knows he sometimes falls asleep so she makes sure to give him a copy of her notes. Telling Koushiro not to push himself so hard and gives him extra oolong tea. Checking on Joe and keeping him on good spirits. Hanging out with Mimi while shopping and talking about the latest. Advicing Takeru not to get in trouble on flirting with so many girls. Inviting Hikari to go with her to this new pastries shop. She and her mom have a better mother/daughter relationship and always spend time to talk and checking up on the other. Because of a lot of activities, she doesn´t play tennis that much like she used to but takes time to do some exercise by herself.

Koushiro: Kind of a loner, loves to be in his office a lot. Has a small group of friends in high school where they talk about the latest trends on technology. A prodigy on his field and very respected by his professors. Always curious, always doing research. Very awkward around girls and gets shy easily. Talks to lots of online friends and is more comfortable knowing his laptop is with him at all times. Likes to spends time with his family and is always making little surprises for them on special occasions. Hangs out with Taichi at his apartment always feeling very comfortable at the Yagami home and thankful when Yuuko makes his favorite meals when he is there. He might not show it but feels lowkey excited whenever he and Taichi are doing some kind of trouble together. 

Mimi: Independent, strong headed and free spirited. Lowkey likes that she is still a bit spoiled by his parents. Does and says whats on her mind not caring what other people think about her. Hates when people are not truthful and don´t say the things they want to say or what they really feel. Likes to have fun and bring some of the America culture to the Japanese which sometimes can be amusing yet confusing to her classmates and can every now and then get her into trouble with some of the girls not sharing the same thoughts. Lots of boys have a crush on her but she´s somewhat oblivious to it. Has become stronger and tries not to cry in front of others. Loves fashion and even more going shopping trying new clothes and combining new looks. Very girly. Likes to experiment with food and although her choices can come off as weird, stated by Koushiro one time, she finds absolutely an incredible combination of flavors that needs to be put out in the world. 

Joe: Responsible, very responsible. Feels pressured of what society expects from him but really he just want to makes his parents feel proud. Very smart, but struggles with his nerves that get the better of him and push himself sometimes a little too hard. Has a good amount of friends and dislikes that he cannot hang out with them that much now. His girlfriend is always texting him to take care of himself and relax. When he gets focused he can become very lonely and isolates himself to reach that goal on his own terms. Taichi and Sora are the ones who check on him the most and Mimi is the one who always tell him to drop the textbooks and go eat some at this new ramen shop. Even though he is the oldest of the group he likes when they all ask him how did it go or how is he and feels always included when they invite him to celebrate the good news. But in the end he is always giving some piece of advice to each of them when they most need it like telling Taichi some good options for his future career and comforts in every way he can.  

Takeru: The little tease. Doesn´t get scared easily anymore and loves teasing the others for good fun. Very popular among his classmates and very flirty with the girls. Knows when to say the right words at the right time and is always advicing his big brother Yamato to control his impulsive nature. May not show it, but he is still a pretty sensible boy and hates when people he cares about the most get hurt. Likes to hang out with his friends. Pretty intuitive. Good grades. Probably has a secret online blog where he writes about his experiences and thoughts on some delicate matters making some controversial statements. Likes to be with Hikari and have a pretty good bond between each other. Knows when she is upset and knows exactly what to tell her even if sometimes it can hurt a little bit, but he cares about her very much that he only wants means well. 

Hikari: A little tease too. Always making fun of Takeru´s little flings and even if she appears innocent, she loves to be cheeky. Sensible, always making sure her brother is okay, eating well and trying not to disappoint him. She has a good amount of friends, but feels more comfortable being around Takeru and confides on him in lots of things which she doesn´t feel she can do with her girl friends. Loves photography and keeps lots of albums of her memories with her brother, family and friends in a shelve. Really good grades. Very reliable among her classmates and boys tend to fall head over heels for her. Her health condition has become better but still can feel a little down every now and then which makes Taichi worry and tells her to take it easy. Likes to be organized and helps her mother tidy around the apartment. Likes sweets, specially ice cream, and is always happy when Taichi comes back with a little treat for her. Tries not to be a burden to others therefore think she can overcome everything herself not relying on others. 

[ladyofthecastleproject]

#6 - Mysterious Lady

“Hikari-chan?!”

The servants, Black Tailmon (named as Rebecca) and Amis looked at Daisuke. V-mon just blinked, yet to say something about the awkward scene.

“Hikari?” - the girl said - “This place has no light, just darkness. I’d like to explain to you what had happened… But I need to recover my energy first.”

“N-No” - V-mon shook his head - “Not light! I think we mistook you with a friend of ours, Yagami Hikari.”

“Ah? A friend?” - she laughed. Yes, her voice and appearance was similar to Hikari… But Daisuke felt something different about her - “I could’ve mistaken your friend with one of mine as well.”

“S-so, you’re not Hikari-chan” - Daisuke looked a bit disappointed - “I’m sorry… You reminded me of her.”

“It’s okay… I confess that I call to mind someone else when I saw you too”

“Really?”

She nodded, then she sat on the chair in front the door.

“Is it a bad timing to ask why did you send your bodyguard to kidnap me?” - Daisuke broke the silence, with Amis glancing at him from his seat - “well, we can talk about it later. It’s snack time right?”

Although the food on the table was more of a luxurious dinner than a small snack time.

“Daisuke’s birthday is in 5 months and I couldn’t find anything to give him as a present!”

She was panicked about it. Maybe it was just a Hikari-thing, but she prefers order. She had disliked how Taichi had kept their room messy when they were small kids and she had felt way better when she had gotten her own room.

“Hikari” - Tailmon tilted her head - “Don’t you think you’re exaggerating? It’s on December, right? We’re on August.”

“Tailmon is right” - Takeru was there because she had asked for his help - “And it’s not like Daisuke-kun would be mad if you don’t find the perfect present for him.”

“No” - she shook her head - “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about that since he became a Chosen, he’s always too focused on that task more than anything else. We barely talk about stuff not related to the Digimon.”

“... Is there is something between you two?” - Takeru asked calmly, but he could read Hikari’s body language: her holding her arm, avoiding to look at him… Her low voice…

“It’s just…” - she began - “Daisuke-kun is not just only a classmate and teammate. He was alone after Vamdemon’s attack. When I’ve met him, he tried to prove to the other children that the ‘monsters’ were real. And no one believed him, he was also bullied because of that. We, oniichan and I, felt terribly bad about it.”

“Since then you’ve been friends with him” - he assumed.

“Y-yes… But he ended up being one of my best friends, alongside you. And now that I’ve met Miyako-san I… I guess we lost contact with each other and we’re just going to the same school. We barely talk now. All of this started after I refused his invitation to go to the beach with him.”

“It’s not your fault, you shouldn’t be blaming yourself like that”

“I know, but the problem is… It’s Daisuke-kun. He really cares about me and sees me as his best friend. He probably thought that I didn’t want to talk with him anymore.”

“Why don’t you tell him that then?” - Takeru believed the solution was easy - “That you weren’t rejecting him but it was only because you were just too busy to go with him to the beach on that day?”

“I told her that” - Tailmon shrugged - “But she ignored it. It’s something more than that, I think”

“Something more?”

“T-Tailmon!” - she gasped - “No, that’s all… I’ve been losing contact with him since we beat Belial Vamdemon” - she looked at her own feet - “Well, I think that was normal since he started to spend more time with Ken-kun and I decided to hang out with Miyako-san…”

“We could do something together” - Takeru smiled - “Something to keep everyone’s bonds stronger like before, like when we fought the Digimon Kaiser.”

“I don’t know…” - she muttered - “I feel like he wouldn’t come, he would prefer to leave me alone.”

“That’s too troublesome” - Patamon frowned his mouth - “Is it because Daisuke likes Hikari, right? So this makes him think if Hikari refuses an invite she’s rejecting him and asking him to stop talking to her?”

Hikari and Takeru kept in silence. Tailmon just got up from the bed and looked at Hikari. She was determined and serious, ready to say something insightful as the adult digimon she was.

“Knowing Daisuke like we know him, he wouldn’t like to know you’re feeling guilty for that. To be honest, he would end up blaming himself for it. Let’s just call him to explain what really happened and move on.”

“She’s right” - Patamon spoke for Takeru - “It’s easy to solve it, you just need some courage to face it.”

“Courage…” - she whispered.

 He had eaten the food because he was hungry and couldn’t resist the impulse. But now he and V-mon were following Rebecca and the mysterious lady to the other room… An office room after the corridor from the door where that girl had been appeared.

Daisuke couldn’t ignore the paintings and some strange weapons on the walls. Weapons that were just a wand, a book, wooden swords, something that looked like a sphere made of crystal (“Wait, that thing had a name right? Isn’t one of those things that fortune tellers use to see the future?”, he thought)... More gears, more portraits but those people, he had no idea whowere they.

But no, something in those…

“Please, come in” - she said while opening the doors to the biggest office room he had seen in his life (and probably wondered if there’s one bigger than that).

Full of book filled shelves, a desktop made with the best wood, a beautiful chair, two sofas  with a coffee table in the middle of them, some ladders to reach the highest part of the shelves… A big beautiful window with the sunlight covering the entire room… And some weird stuff that made him think of sorcery, like floating spheres and a few gears around.

“Wow” - exclaimed both Dai and Vee, they felt that the place was magnificent.

“So, this is your… Uh, room?” - Daisuke asked - “Did you read all of those books?”

“Just a few of them” - she walked towards the sofa and sat on it - “Please sit while I explain why I need your help, mister…”

“Oh no, I’m no mister” - he chuckled - “No need to be that formal, really!” - he and V-mon sat on the other sofa - “I’m Daisuke, Motomiya Daisuke. and this is my digimon partner, V-mon” - and Vee waved at her - “We never noticed this castle before. Well, I don’t even know how to find it since a CERTAIN wolf hit me on the head and I passed out…”

“No need to be too harsh with Amis, Mr. Daisuke” - she said calmly - “He’s not good with humans, but he has a soft heart.”

“If you say so…” - he shrugged.

“I’m Lia” - she introduced herself - “I’ve been living in this forest for a long time, with my mentor but he lost his mind and decided to trap himself inside a labyrinth with something that belongs to me. He also casted a spell on this castle, making me and the others unable to leave it. I know a bit of magic, enough to call for help, but he is too strong and the others who came before you never returned from the labyrinth.”

Daisuke felt scared. He wanted to go home now, but he had promised to stay and help that girl.

“W-wait a minute” - Daisuke interrupted her - “Spell? Magic? Are you telling me you’re not human, that you’re some kind of digimon or witch?”

“I’m human,” - she blinked her eyes - “But my mentor was a wizard, a powerful one. He might kill to keep the holy light with him. He’s full of greed, and doesn’t understand my motives.”

“Your motives?” - V-mon repeated.

“I can tell you the rest when you return” - she replied - “Please, Mr. Daisuke, I ask you to get back what’s mine.”

“But he a wizard” - Daisuke was completely shocked with that mission - “I’m a normal human! I have V-mon but… It’s unfair to let a digimon fight a human. Is he human too? Or is he a digimon?”

“He’s a human too” - she tried to calm him down - “And I can share a bit of my magic to protect and strengthen you.”

WHAT.

“O-Okay, i-it won’t hurt, w-will it…?” - Daisuke stammered.

He didn’t know what happened but he felt something hitting him faster than a cheetah. V-mon saw it though. The digimon saw the girl gathering her hands, muttering something strange and then throwing some kind of blue light at Daisuke. the light became a flame and it went through his partner. Ironically, Daisuke felt nothing than (a light) dizzy sensation.

“It’s done,” - Lia said - “You can go to the living room. On every sunset a door appears in the wall. Take that door to the labyrinth, fight my mentor and bring me back what belongs to me, please.”

“Ow…” - Daisuke put his hand on his forehead - “W-what did you do to me?”

“It’s nothing lethal” - she smiled - “you will need it there, and I guess your friend digimon does not need a little help.”

He got up from the sofa and walked to the entrance, V-mon followed him but finding his reaction too normal for him. Wait, he wasn’t panicked?

 “Maybe we could go to the Karaoke next Sunday!” - Miyako suggested, talking to Hikari on the phone - “But if Daisuke is coming this means it will be a disaster! Well, how about going to the theater?” - she was also working on her computer - “There’s a nice movie Daisuke wanted to watch. But I don’t know if Ken-kun, Iori, Takeru-kun and you would like it...”

“We will find something, Miyako-san” - she replied - “Something that all of us can do together and then keep our bonds stronger. Ah, how about going to the ferris wheel? Or to the arcade? I think those would make Daisuke-kun happy. He had been a bit… sad?”

“I think you need to relax, Hikari-chan” - Miyako rolled her eyes - “Daisuke will be fine. It’s just a phase, the phase where he overthinks things every time someone’s important says something to him. Remember? He misunderstood your complain about him bad mouthing his sister. And he also overreacted to Taichi-san’s opinion of that soccer match against Ken-kun’s team. And now he’s just panicked because…”

“He’s not talking to me.”

“Huh?!” - she almost lost her glasses when she heard that.

“Daisuke-kun sees me and he just avoids me. It started when he had invited me to go to the beach… I refused because Sora-san was going to teach me how to bake and I didn’t want to change my plans. He thinks I don’t like him anymore, that I’m asking him to leave me alone.”

“Well, that’s a Daisuke-thing to do. Really.”

“I want to tell him I’m not rejecting him, but he’s not answering my calls or my messages.”

“And that’s definitely some kind of Daisuke-heartbroken symptom.”

“I’m thinking to gather everyone and do something together, so he can appear and I can talk to him. Is it a good idea, Miyako-san?”

“You mean, distract him and then we let you two alone to have this little talk?” - Miyako narrowed her eyes - “Do you really think he will come if he knows you will be there? I think he would find any excuse to avoid bothering you. But If I tell him it will be just Ken-kun, Iori and me… Maybe he will come. Ah, did you know? There were a heated clash between Daisuke and Iori yesterday. But it solved quickly and I think Iori will be OK by helping in your plan.”

“Why is the main problem always has to be Daisuke-kun?” - Hikari sighed

“Maybe because we love that jerk with a burning passion enough to want him to feel loved” - she answered with a laugh - “Seriously, our lives wouldn’t have been the same without him.”

“I guess so.”

 “Here we are…” - Daisuke was standing in front the wall where its supposed to be the entrance to the labyrinth. That part of the wall had no pictures or decoration, it was made of bricks. He started tapping each brick and trying to discover how to open it, ignoring what Lia had said. It sounds worthier to find the switch than waiting for it to magically appear.

He didn’t pay attention to the living room, including the portraits and paintings. He was focused on waiting that door to appear so he can open it. He really wanted to resolve that issue quick and leave the castle.

V-mon wasn’t okay with that. Daisuke was a bit strange; something had changed about him… But V-mon was unable to tell what was it though. Well, maybe it was just him being too much worried about his partner.

“Hey,” - Daisuke called him - “Do you think we have to say some magical word to open the door?”

He felt relieved, because that was a Daisuke-thing.

“I dunno…” - Vee answered - “Maybe we just need to wait the door to appear…?”

“... Maybe.”

“Are you OK?” - He was concerned.

Daisuke blinked

“Yeah I am, I have no idea what she did to me, but I’m fine… And… I dunno why she wants me to do that, why don’t she just send her bodyguard? That guy could’ve beaten the wizard man and could’ve gotten whatever belongs to her.”

V-mon had to agree. And what had happened to those who hadn’t returned from the labyrinth? Had those been digimon? Like, wild digimon?

The blue digimon decided to ignore that. He got distracted with the beautiful living room, while Daisuke was too focused on finding the said hidden door on the wall. There were too much content in that room, especially portraits of those unknown humans whom be Lia’s ancestors.

But there… On the desk…Under the last sunlight of the day…

That portrait… It had Lia and two other people, but the reflection of the light covered them. He had the urge to go there and check that particular photo--

“Ah, the door finally appeared!”

He had to look in front of him and saw Daisuke whistling. A mystic entrance appeared in front of them. The bricks disappeared and a passage from a dark eerie corridor was connected to the wall. Maybe that was the said labyrinth Lia had talked about.

“Here we go! Time to have my own challenge.”

Yes, Daisuke was excited and had forgotten that he had to go home before his parents get worried with his disappearance. V-mon had to follow him and ignore his curiosity, thinking a bit about that portrait.

Why that photo made him curious…? Nevermind, Daisuke wouldn’t want to waste time and go back…

After crossing the entrance, it disappeared.